Apparatus for turning and cleaning bags



A. E. SCHULZ. APPARATUS FOR TURNING AND CLEANING BAGS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.3I. 192i.

Patented Nov. 28, 1922,

Patented Nov. 28, 1922.

rEn STATES.

ARTHUR E. SCHULZ,- OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

.APPARATUS FOR TURNING AND CLEANING BAGS.

Applieation filed August 31, 1921. [serial 1%. 497,288.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, IXRTHUR E. SoHULz,

citizen of theUnited States, residing at- 218 N. Hamlin Ave,

Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Apparatus for Turning and Cleamng Bags, of

which the following is a specification.

My invention relates more particularly apparatus for turning and cleaning flexible bags such as those made of fabric, ofthe type employing a hollow open-ended member adapted for communication with a suitable source of suction and adapted to have applied to the open end thereof, the mouth portion of the bag to be turned and cleaned.

My primary object is .to provide improvements in apparatus of the general character stated, to the end that the turning and cleaning operation will be satisfactory manner, and the apparatus'be rendered capable of operating upon a maximum number of bags in a given length of time. Certain of my objects specifically stated, are to provide an apparatus, the exertion of suction 1n the open-ended member of which shall be under the control of the operator, whereby in the application of the bags to said member the suction may be caused to be non-acting on the bag until-the bag is in the desired position relative to the member, so that the suction action will not act prematurely on the bag; and to provide an apparatus which shall be simple of construction and positive in operation.

Referring to the accompanying drawings: Fig. 1 is a view, somewhat diagrammatic in nature, of a. bag turning and cleaning apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention. the apparatus illustrated being shown as provided with a plurality of the open-ended members referred to. Fig. 2 is a view in vertical sectional elevation of one of the similar open-ended members referred to. Fig. 3 is an enlarged section taken at the line 3-3 on Fig. 2 and viewed in the direction of the arrows. Fig. l is a broken view in vertical elevation of a modification of the structure shown in the preceding figures; and Fig. 5 an enlargedsection taken at the line 55 on Fig. 4 and viewed in the direction of the arrows.

In the particular illustrated embodiment of the invention, the open-ended members referred to and to which the bags to be ,tion inlet of any mg device represented at 10, the outlet of performed in a highly.

turned and cleaned areapplied, are represented at 6, these members preferably extending in substantially vertical position withthe open .ends, represented at 7, opening downwardly. Two of the members 6 are shown, but it will be understood that. the invention is also applicable to the employment of more or less of these members, the latter being shown as communicating at their open ends with pipes 8 which open into a p1pe9 communicating withthe sucsuitable suction-produe' which communicates with a pipe 11, which would lead to any suitable point for discharge .ofthe dust; removed from the bags by the suction action. The suction device 10 is shown as provided with a pulley 12, which would be belted to any suitable power device (not shown) for driving the device The member 6 is shown as of general cylindrical. form, its lower open end 7 being preferably contracted, as shown, relative to the body portion of the member 6. The member 6 is preferably constructed of sheet metal and is provided at its upper end with a series of inwardly. extending flanges 13,

whichv are preferably each'iof the same.

length, and so positioned that the spaces between adjacent ones thereof are of substantially the same length as these flanges, as shown. Surrounding the upper end of the cylindrical member 6 is a ring 14 presenting at its upper edge a wardly extending annular flange 15, sup ported by means of bolts 16 extending there through and through the horizontally extending annular flange 17, provided on the lower edge of a ring 18 surrounding, and rigidly secured to, the lower end of the pipe 8, the latter being preferably outwardly flaring in a downward direction as shown.-

The upper end of the member 6 is provided with a round disc 19 containing a series of segmental openings 20 radiating from the center thereof, this disc being of such diameter that it overlaps. throughout its periphery. a portion of the ring 14 which it superposes, this disc being preferably provided on its under surface with annular ribs 19, which may be rings secured thereto and arranged to extend across the openings 20 for a purpose hereinafter described. The disc 19 is rigidly secured by rivets, as rcphorizontally and outopenings 23 preferably of the same shape and size as the openings 20 and spaced apart the same distance as the latter. The disc 22 extends at its annular margined edge be tween the rings 14 and 18, the bolts 16 passing therethrough and tation. By preference the bolts 16 extend through spacers 24 located between the disc" 22 and the'flange 15 of the ring 14. these spacers being of such thickness'that when the nuts of 22 and the spacers fll, the disc 19 will not be clamped between the tlisc' 22 and ring 14,

' but will be free torotate, together with the From the foregoing'it will be understood that when the body portion of the member device described for the member 6 to be ositions the mouth of theybag 6 and at 6 is rotated to one position, the openings 20 in the disc 19 will be in registration with the openings 23 in'the disc 22, and suction will be exerted in the member 6,and when moved to a position in which the openings 20 are out of registration with the openings 23, suction in this member will be arrested.

In the use of the apparatus, the operator grasping the bag to be turned and cleaned at opposite sides of the mouth portion thereof by his two hands, and assuming the valve closed, 7 against t e'lower open end 7 "of the member the same time grasps this member and rotates it sufficiently to rotate the disc 19 to a position in which thisvalvedevice will be open, the suction action thus produced in the member 6 drawing the bag into the latter, while the bag is held by the operator at its mouth against the open end of the member 6, and thereby turning'the bag inside out and withdrawing the dusttherefrom, which is sucked by the device 10 certain particular constructions embodying to effect the removal of the dust therefrom,

the operator still grasping the mouth p,or-' tion of the bag and the open end of the member 6 rotates the latter, and with it the disc 19, to a position in which the valve device, of which this disc is a part, is in closed position, whereupon the suction ceases and the bag is then removed.

The valve device referred to,-in addition to controllin the exertion of suction in the member 6, a so servesas a means for preventing the sucking of the bag into the pipes 8 or 9, should the operator release his grasp upon the mouth portion of the bag during holding it against rothe bolts "16 are tightened to clamp together the rings 14 and: 18, the disc its subjection to the suctionaction, the rings 7 meansfor controlling the exertion of suc tion in the member 6. In this-arrangement,

instead of providing the valve device'asex-v plained'of the construction in the preceding figures, the pipe 8 is provided with a valve represented generally at 25 and adapted to be operated by the foot of the operator. The valve shown comprises two segmental discs 26 secured to shafts'27 which extend crosswise ot' the pipe 8 and are journaled therein adapting the discs 26 to extend in alignment crosswise of the pipe 8 and close the latter, f or extend in depending position as repre-.

sented by dotted lines in Figs. 4 and 5 to open the pipe 8 totheexertion of suction therethrough, depending on the posit-ion occupied by these shafts; Adjacent ends of the shafts 27 are provided'with pinions28 which mesh with each other, one of these shafts being provided with a'crank 29 connected at its outer end witha pitman 30, the lower end of which :is connected with a inFigs. 4 and5 treadle 31 pivotally supported'a't 32, the

valve device referred to being moved out of closed position by depressing the treadle 31 against theaction of a spring 30, which latter operates, when the operator removes his foot from the treadle, to restore the valve to closed position. i

this is of considerable advantage in a construction of this character, as the operator is permitted to "position the bag on the member 6 while this member is closed to "suction, the operator thereupon, opening the valve to permitthe suction to turn and clean the bag. This feature of the invention not only insures the proper turning and cleaning of the bag, but also conserves suction with the manifest advantage.

\Vhile I' have illustrated and described my invention, I do not wish to be understood as intended to limit it thereto, as the same may be variously modified and altered withtion in communication with said member,

and valve means adapted to be actuated by the movement of said member for controllmg suction exerted in the latter.

100 It may be stated that as to the feature of providing a valve control for the suction,

2. Bagcleaning apparatus comprising, in combination, a rotatably supported open- I ended tubular member adapted for the aption of a bag to be cleaned, a source of suction in communication with said-member, and valve means formed of relatively movable members, one of which is an apertured disc movable with said tubular member and serving when in one position to open said tit member to said source of suction and when shifted to another position to close said member to said source of suction.

i. Bug cleaning apparatus comprising, in combinatioma conduit through which suction is exerted, said conduit containing an apertured member forming one part of a. valve device, an annular member supported from the lower end of said conduit and spaced therefrom, and an open-ended tubular memberprovided with an outwardly extending flange at which said member extends into said space referred to for rotatably supporting said member on said conduit, the upper portion of said tubular member having an aperture cooperating with said disc, for the urpose set forth.

" 'A THUR E. SCHULZ. 

